US 3,977,386 A · Football launching apparatus

Abstract

A launching device for propelling a football into an airborne trajectory with the football pointed forwardly and rotating about its longitudinal axis similar to a forward pass in the game of football. The launching device includes a spring-biased, retractable catapult arm with a ball-holding basket on the end thereof. The device is provided with a governor which delays the launching of the ball for a predetermined time period to allow the user to move into position for receiving the ball. The launching device includes height adjustments and spring tension adjustments for regulating the trajectory of the football. A safety interlocking mechanism is provided to prevent the launching of foreign objects. The device cannot be operated unless a football is loaded in the basket. The basket has a size, shape, orientation and edge portion which accurately simulates the trajectory of a thrown football by imparting a spiral spin to the football.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In a ball throwing device, which includes a base structure, a launching mechanism movably mounted on the base structure for movement between a retracted cocked position and a launching position with receiving means for the ball, and drive means for operating said launching mechanism for moving the launching mechanism from said cocked position to said launching position to throw the ball, the improvement comprising:

means to hold said launching mechanism in said cocked position and a safety interlocking mechanism operatively associated with said holding means for sensing the presence of a ball in said receiving means and immobilizing said holding means to prevent said launching mechanism from being held in its cocked position when a ball is not positioned in said receiving means.

A throwing device for a football having a generally ellipsoidal shape with an enlarged mid-portion converging toward opposite ends defining its longitudinal axis, comprising:

a base structure, a catapult arm pivotally mounted on said base structure, drive means for rapidly pivoting said catapult arm relative to said base structure for launching purposes, and a ball holder mounted on the free swinging end of said catapult arm for receiving the football to cradle the same when the launching mechanism is at a starting rest position, the ball holder being in the form of an avoid surface segment of an ellipsoid for engaging said football when received therein for imparting a spin to the football generally about its longitudinal axis through said opposite ends thereof when launched by said mechanism, said ball holder being oriented so that the longitudinal axis of the ellipsoidal shape of which it is an avoid surface segment is disposed at an angle of approximately 45.degree. with respect to the plane of travel of the catapult arm as well as being canted so that its open side faces generally forwardly when the catapult arm and ball holder are in their launching position whereby a trailing edge portion along the outermost periphery of the ball holder frictionally engages the football as the football moves out of the ball holder under centrifugal force during pivoting of the catapult arm to cause the football to roll off of said trailing edge during launching whereby the football is launched in a spiral motion spinning about its longitudinal axis which intersects the vertical plane of travel at an angle of approximately 45.degree..

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Football launching apparatus

Life of this patent

Football launching apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8